"Let's go. Saw many interesting things, like that Ring of Levitation in the sky actually having a user..."
Anemone, who had been observing the allied forces' command carrier for a long time, suddenly spoke. The other side was welcoming heroes with lined formations, while their group hiding on the rocky beach looked rather wretched, though it was voluntary concealment.
Rabbit Ear Umbrella shrugged: "I don't recommend teleporting now. I'm only Blooming Stage spatial type—instant movement might be tracked in front of Fruition Stage."
Magical Girl Hyacinth's unique mental scanning continuously enveloped the ocean, vast and boundless.
Erina also nodded. Being able to hide was the limit.
Having defeated humanity's first-tier enemy, Hyacinth carried victory's might at peak state—heart, technique, body reaching perfection while still rapidly expanding. She could probably win another battle, and more cleanly too.
Obelisk's strategy was secretly gathering awakened Magical Girls and finding companions who survived previous era destruction together—should remain hidden.
When magic revival reached its peak, supporting Withering Stage activities, they would naturally arrive on stage.
"No problem."
Anemone patted Rabbit Ear Umbrella's shoulder. The latter didn't refuse, accepting this power to make her hands show puppet joints.
"My skill can now puppetize target's partial limbs, and we Magical Girls' most signature casting is through fingers... Anyway that's how I understand it, so I can borrow this control to enhance effects, enough to let your coordinate displacement evade the greatest Sands of Time user in history."
"...You couldn't do this before. This represents the Fruition Stage?"
Even the usually cold gothic girl couldn't help but smile proudly. Yes, inspired by Hyacinth, she who was already at the Withering Stage easily exceeded the world's upper limit.
Among numerous Magical Girls, on the longest scale she was also first among them—this level was nothing. Then Rabbit Ear Umbrella pressed both companions' shoulders, and all three disappeared.
"Who!"
Hibiscus on the carrier deck instinctively blurted out, then looked toward the distant rocky beach. Vast mental power swept over—finding nothing.
The strong trusted intuition more. Though no traces remained, she could confirm magic energy had existed there.
"That strange gaze disappeared, right?" Jin Yulu asked.
"Worthy of being Golden Dragon Emperor, you sensed it too. Don't worry, not hostile enemies or they'd have been exposed long ago. I'll conduct prophetic investigation later."
Seeing the two discuss serious matters, Dandelion, Jin Ruochu and others began socializing to fend off reporters, finally keeping some distance. Of course, all the Magical Girls became photography subjects too—the scene was quite lively.
"I represent allied forces in thanking you."
Josh gestured for soldiers to maintain order somewhat, finally getting some quiet.
"Just heard some of Pope's judgments. What do you think, Miss Hyacinth? The Holy Spear represents many things."
"Won't hide it from you—only I can wield and counter the most toxic relic. Keeping it with the Church is perfectly appropriate, besides being the King's entrustment. We're qualified and capable, right? Please convey the organization's decision." Hibiscus's tone brooked no argument.
"Understood."
"We'll discuss specific division of the Catastrophic Disaster Beast corpse later, but I hope to introduce Magical Girl and fairy supervision to avoid South African situations."
Nearby secretaries hurriedly took notes, treating everything seriously with even some awe. Indeed experienced—literary and martial strategy. Finding legal basis through historical tracing, proceeding from current strength, directly asserting spoils distribution—truly impeccable. Anyway frontline commanders and Holy City Association didn't object, so they just needed to record, leaving high-level games for later.
While they communicated, mist approached, protecting an island rapidly drawing near.
Fireworks continuously exploded above Hermit Island, accompanied by Magical Girls' cheers—they came from another battlefield hunting escaped Disaster Beasts, victorious rendezvous.
This represented war's true end.
Hibiscus nodded: "Let's return quickly."
Everyone agreed. Though wanting to carefully admire the Catastrophic Disaster Beast's magnificence, they were too tired. Exhausted victors just wanted good rest, so they sailed together toward New Zealand frontline base headquarters.
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Command Center had just emergency-repaired all communications, resulting in information bombardment:
First fleet reports: "Confirmed Salvation Church and Holy City Association jointly destroyed all Intelligent Subspecies, killed Catastrophic Disaster Beast, plus Hyacinth's material distribution suggestions..."
One moment general command was asking "Why didn't you report Mantle?" The next message became "Congratulations on victory"—utterly ridiculous.
Additionally: "Meet with Hyacinth for next conference ASAP," "Invite Management Bureau to permanent advisory meeting seats," "Expand Magical Girl Rights Act revisions"—shameless requests treating frontline command as matchmaking central.
Bull leaned back with feet on his desk, leisurely drinking coffee.
"The world was just immersed in fear of Catastrophic Disaster Beast attacks, now it's holding a funeral for it. Ridiculous enough."
"Can hardly imagine we're still alive," Croft took a deep breath.
"Before departure they said they definitely had methods and actually won. Indeed that's transcendent world cognition—ordinary people lack even qualification to judge, just accepting results. Everyone's the same."
"What about the King?"
"Hold a funeral. He's a great hero, including those sacrificed Ancient Holy Relics. Let's hold funerals for Holy City Association." Bull spoke meaningfully.
Croft was slightly stunned, realizing this time the world's first transcendent organization suffered heavy losses.
They could no longer bear the hegemon's throne.
The Pope's attitude of retreating while ahead also showed their internal decisions were already formed. Heroes had early judgment of their own endings.
Holy City Association's longevity related closely to members' moderate scrutiny—knowing advance and retreat, understanding the big picture. At crucial moments they didn't cling to power. Perhaps their claims of just wanting to live more comfortably while surviving erosion weren't false, thus better seeing grand trends.
"Now humanity's strongest existence is Magical Girls, not Holy Relics. This symbolic change leaves many at a loss," Croft said coldly.
"So?"
"Nothing to 'so' about. We'll silently witness. Regardless what military thinks, that answer in people's hearts can't be shaken. The achievement of killing Catastrophic Disaster Beast is witnessed by all, and Hyacinth is still alive, still young. That halo will only grow stronger, producing unimaginable appeal."
The two exchanged glances thinking they had no choice. The next era belonged to Salvation Church.
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New Zealand Island, expeditionary force full triumphant return.
Along came a shocking object: Hermit Island dragging the Catastrophic Disaster Beast corpse.
Almost no machinery in the world could move it, or would require massive manpower and material mobilization thus delaying time. Might as well let Hermit Island, comparable to nuclear power and heavy enough, serve as tugboat.
Two behemoths appearing was truly maximum visual impact. Shore soldiers were dumbfounded—this was only half, the other half annihilated by Hyacinth.
Terrifying!
Either far exceeded human cognitive limits—incomprehensible.
No one doubted authenticity. Island-level Disaster Beasts could only be catastrophic, or at minimum, even if life levels didn't qualify, sufficient for intimidation. Moreover everyone witnessed South Pacific storms, plus magnificent scenery of torn cloud layers extending to northern hemispheres—completely genuine.
"Long live allied forces! Long live victory!"
"We again thwarted Disaster Beast attacks—"
"Fallen Zones completely recovered."
The moment expeditionary forces stepped onto docks, mountain-shaking, sea-calling cheers exceeded wave sounds, echoing long, reaching clouds.
How weren't they survivors too? If frontline elite squads lost, first to take Catastrophic Disaster Beast breath with foreheads would be New Zealand base. How could they block it? Probably mutual destruction. So Magical Girls and Holy Relics first saved them, naturally also saving the world.
Excitement couldn't express it—some even wiped tears. Precisely having witnessed Catastrophic Disaster Beast aftershocks made them afraid. That earthquake might still frightened people.
Fortunately everything passed. Strong enemies now became harmless spoils for viewing.
This time differed from before. As Mantle's "transport ship" plus victors' base, this welcome was located at Hermit Island beachhead, actively opening barriers to welcome everyone.
After all, only here had sufficient magic resources to suppress materials' possible contamination outbreaks. Everyone agreed on this.
Where to store also concerned power tendencies—invisible status.
"Welcome."
As Hibiscus extended invitation, front mist actively dispersed. The world's most mysterious place all along showed one corner to people.
If Fallen Zones could occasionally be detected, then Magical Girl bases were as secretive as their organizations. Investigation alone triggered counter-detection punishment mechanisms.
Openness was the strong's privilege. Now world-conquering Salvation Church being petty and secretive would be ridiculous. Better directly welcome openly, so she temporarily decided opening the beach. What entered guests' eyes was tropical island scenery—beachfront exclusive huts, volleyball courts, convenience stores all present, no different from imagined tourist destinations...
Wait, why were military ports built right beside sightseeing beaches, directly parking nuclear submarines with modification traces?
Actually Domesticated Disaster Beasts lived there, even occasionally flying over lush forests. Some swaggered on beaches collecting garbage for cleaning—this intelligence shamed many laboratories.
No wonder the Salvation Church understood Disaster Beasts—they were also researching and far ahead.
Another conspicuous wonder was the "mini World Tree," entirely emerald, towering over tree oceans welcoming numerous fairies—quite dreamlike.
So beautiful.
Unfortunately fairies were rather shy. After polite greetings they left for temporary residences, the scene of butterfly-like climbing trees absolutely gorgeous—truly Magical Girl land.
When people's gazes focused on forest highlands they discovered complete departure from common sense.
At the highest point stood broken mirror projections—famous Thousand-Li Viewing Mirror's energy dissipation, world's first spatial relic.
Additionally, a huge spherical lightning.
Crackling sounds continuously arose, accompanied by threads of current crisscrossing in all directions, constantly switching between blue and gold. Made people wonder if it would fall, but maintained stable equilibrium motionless. It was super energy source created by Technique magic plus Swift Lightning, Pseudo Magnetic Field, maintaining most island operations.
"Using magic as energy source! For you this would be more convenient, more reliable than reactors?"
"Ball lightning really exists?"
"Should say on Hermit Island everything's possible. Don't forget where this is."
Its existence was both sci-fi and magical, amazing visitors more while realizing the land underfoot wasn't some ancient undeveloped area—quite advanced.
Looking further, beyond forest areas was residential zones around mountains—actually modern skyscrapers rising from ground. Not mass-produced standardized aesthetics, each unique with aesthetic design sense, by different masters, integrating architectural styles from everywhere...
Vaguely visible soccer fields, malls, stadiums etc., unfortunately too far with poor bottom-up angles.
Whoosh!
Suddenly wind blew mist partially covering, like holding a lute half-hiding face, blocking residential areas. Everyone looked at the silver-haired girl, who put finger to lips with faint smile: "Not time yet. Today only beach area opens."
Instead made everyone more curious, itching unbearably.
Currently confirmed, Hermit Island's development was quite high. Blank paper with careful planning definitely wouldn't be bad. Not to mention full magic enhancement—born from transcendent power from the start, always protected. Those building clusters obviously cost fortunes, willing to spend money, and are financially strong. Clearly the Salvation Church was creating future city blueprints.
They were used as free advertising—many live cameras directly transmitted Hermit Island corners worldwide.
Truly magical metropolis.
Originally some street alley urban legends came to reality, completely genuine, truer than gold—Salvation Church's handiwork. No wonder they accepted numerous Magical Girls.
It had always traveled as a city, with fairies and Domesticated Disaster Beasts living inside—incredible. Many gazes focused on the Church decided to join, undoubtedly this sign established appeal to newly awakened Magical Girls.
The World's first transcendent organization now belonged to Salvation Church—orthodox status among Magical Girls, this concept continuously imprinted.
But island people's immediate priority focused on another matter.
Bull suggested: "Your organization's base is the world's safest place with sufficient protective measures. Then let's dissect the Catastrophic Disaster Beast here. I can't think of better options."
He immediately responded—some words had to be said by himself, having Hyacinth praise the Church was somewhat inconvenient.
"Great honor."
With two leaders reaching agreement, spoils disposal was settled—no need for troublesome headquarters consultation, decided on-site.